Caroline Wozniacki and Jamie Hampton secure a spot in semi-finals – AEGON International 2013
Former world number one, Caroline Wozniacki, outlasted the Russian challenger, Ekaterina Makarova, in a three-set thriller at the AEGON International 2013 on Thursday. The American qualifier, Jamie Hampton, also stole the show and progressed into the final four at this WTA Premier event taking place in Eastbourne, United Kingdom.
Seeded fifth in this event, Wozniacki re-kindled her spark and outclassed the left-handed Russian for the seventh straight time.
The Danish star was quoted in a courtside interview after earning the limelight, "The second set was a good set for me. I played well. I'm really pleased with the way my game is at the moment and I feel like I have been playing really good tennis here this week."
The world number 25, Makarova stormed into this match and drew the first blood in the opening game to take a 2-0 lead. She lost her edge in the fourth game but broke again to take a 4-3 lead. Despite squandering her serve again in the eighth game, the Russian availed another break chance and pulled out the opener with a 6-4 win.
Wozniacki quickly found her rhythm after gifting away the opening set. She went on a six-game killing spree and grabbed the equaliser with a bagel.
The Danish number one kept momentum rolling in the deciding set. She got the much awaited break in the second game and jumped to a 3-0 lead. Apart from losing her edge in the seventh game, Wozniacki stayed focused and got the breakthrough in the very next game. As a result, the Dane sealed the decider by winning six games to three.
The Dane will square off against Hampton for the first time at WTA Tour level.
Hampton also made an epic comeback from a set down to outshine Lucie Safarova with a 3-6, 7-6(1), 6-4 score line.
The American commented in a post match presser, “We were basically playing in a cloud. There was so much moisture in the air and the court was slick, so I was having a hard time with my footing and my movements. That was definitely bothering me a little bit. I was a little worked up today, actually, I showed a little more emotion than I would have liked to. But the conditions were tough out there today.”
The American underdog was trailing 3-6, 3-5 when she found her rhythm and levelled the scores at 5-5. Hampton not only grabbed the equaliser but prevailed in the final set to earn the glory.
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